'The Portrait Project' shoots people's true emotions

Actress Andrea Bang as photographed for the The Portrait Project by Aharon Jinjihashvili.

As an actor, filmmaker and director I wondered if I could use my skills to capture authentic emotion within a single frame. I came up with this project to see if I could direct models into expressing true emotion on camera.

I provoked feeling within participants by asking each model a series of personal questions regarding each specific emotion they wished to express. Twenty-four participants were photographed without the use of hair and makeup. No posing or pretending, only genuine emotion.

This is the result.

Alexis Chin, 23, actor

"I've had huge dreams but no one ever believed I could achieve them. Nothing motivates me more than proving people wrong. But I am human. And it is difficult to try to remain strong in a world full of risk and rejection. "

Bradley Jonathan Fung, 18, actor

"That split-second feeling of belonging is what drives me to keep acting; I’m in constant search of that feeling. And until I can catch it and hold on to it I don’t think I can ever stop."

Brian Tam, 17, student

"No matter how many different faces you see of me, all of them will point you back to the real me."

Cleo Yeh, actress, model

"I am reminding people of their humanity using one ugly crying face at a time"

Colton Scott Barnert, 15, student actor

“I love exploring and trying new things.”

Daniel Yang, 16, actor

"I am the awkward kid that walks down a long road."

Donovan Kaige Tejani, 16, student

"Sometimes I look retrospectively and realize that I'm just watching life go by and I'm trying to figure out if that's normal."

Gianni Carabelea, 40, croupier

“I left that fearful boy from a Romanian small village behind. Small village boy, big heart, big dreams!"

Jaren Moore, actor

Jefferneil Reyes actor, 24, actor, filmmaker

"I tend to not settle for anything. But when I do, it's always the outcome that makes me unhappy."

Kenneth Tynan, 20, actor

"I am someone who has opened himself up to a stranger"

Laura Auffray, 26, actor

"I am an actor on the autism spectrum learning about human nature through performance."

Over the last year and a half, the Untitled Art Space in Chinatown has become the go-to spot for showcasing the versatility of Vancouver’s art scene. That continued this week when the space featured...